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Ben Turpin (September 19, 1869 – July 1, 1940) was a cross-eyed American comedian and actor, best remembered for his work in silent films. Turpin was born Bernard Turpin in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 19, 1869, the son of a candy store owner. Turpin and his first wife, Carrie Le Mieux, an actress, were married in Chicago in 1907. In 1923, Mrs. Turpin became ill with influenza, which caused the loss of her hearing. Heartbroken, Turpin brought his seriously ill wife to the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec, hoping she would be healed. She eventually became an invalid,... MORE

Ben Turpin (September 19, 1869 – July 1, 1940) was a cross-eyed American comedian and actor, best remembered for his work in silent films. Turpin was born Bernard Turpin in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 19, 1869, the son of a candy store owner. Turpin and his first wife, Carrie Le Mieux, an actress, were married in Chicago in 1907. In 1923, Mrs. Turpin became ill with influenza, which caused the loss of her hearing. Heartbroken, Turpin brought his seriously ill wife to the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec, hoping she would be healed. She eventually became an invalid, with Turpin placing his career on hold to care for her. Carrie died on October 2, 1925. He worked in vaudeville, burlesque, and circuses. Turpin had a distinctive appearance, with a small wiry frame, a brush mustache, and crossed eyes. Turpin's famous eyes, he said, only crossed as a young adult after he suffered an accident. Turpin was convinced that the crossed eyes were essential to his comic career; his co-workers recalled that after he received any blow to the head he made a point of looking himself in the mirror to assure himself that they had not become uncrossed. Turpin was a devout Catholic, LESS